U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., and Michael Bennet have introduced the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act, aimed at strengthening protections for patients against surprise medical bills.
The No Surprises Act, enacted in 2020, established safeguards to prevent unexpected out-of-network charges and created a dispute resolution process for settling payment disagreements between insurers and providers. However, many health insurers have failed to comply with these requirements, delaying reimbursements and shifting costs to patients. The new legislation seeks to address these issues by ensuring insurers adhere to the law.
Key provisions of the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act include:
- Closing enforcement gaps by imposing stricter penalties for missed statutory payment deadlines.
- Equalizing penalties to ensure consistent accountability for all non-compliant parties.
- Enhancing transparency through improved reporting requirements.
This bill reinforces the No Surprises Act’s original intent to protect patients, uphold balanced dispute resolution, and prevent financial burdens from falling on those seeking care.
